Michigan Football: The 10 most important defensive players in 2020

Top three

3. Cameron McGrone

In all honesty, McGrone might be my favorite player on the Michigan football defense heading into the 2020 season. He was spectacular after taking over the starting job at Mike linebacker a year ago and finished with 65 tackles, nine tackles for loss, two sacks and a forced fumble. Sideline to sideline, he might be the Wolverines most impactful player on defense, the problem is that linebacker just isn’t a premier position.

2. Daxton Hill

Daxton Hill flashed some really strong potential during his first season with Michigan football. He had 36 tackles, two fumble recoveries, broke up three passes and picked one off. He was used mostly as a slot corner and some at safety last season, but this year, I’d love to see him in the deep middle. Michigan has needed an eraser of sorts. A guy who can make up for mistakes on the backend and just limit big plays, whether in the running game or the pass. Jabrill Peppers used to be that guy, even as a Viper and Hill can do that too on top of being an impact player.

1. Aidan Hutchinson

Hutchinson has as much room to grow as any player on the Michigan defense. He was stout in 2019, finishing with 69 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. As a traditional defensive end, he’s as good as anyone in the Big Ten. He’s dominant against the run but needs to improve as a pass rusher.

He was just named as a preseason All-American and he if can get better rushing the quarterback, the sky really is the limit.